Fr Eamon O’Reilly OMI, Rest in Peace

Oblate Father Eamon O’Reilly, formerly of Johannesburg, died on July 12, a day before his 88th birthday, in Ireland.

Fr O’Reilly made his first vows as an Oblate on September 29, 1954, and his perpetual vows exactly three years later. He was ordained a priest on September 20, 1959.

He came to South Africa in early 1960, accompanied by fellows Oblate Father Joseph Leathem, who died in March this year.

Fr O’Reilly would spend 53 years in South Africa.

He was first sent to Lesotho to learn Sesotho, and then served in Johannesburg: at Randfontein, Mofolo, Regina Mundi and in Meadowlands, especially during the difficult years of apartheid.

During this time he lived in community at the Oblate House in Florida.

Fr O’Reilly had a reputation of being a healer or herbalist, and people had much faith in his remedies.

His last assignment in South Africa was to the Mazenod Retreat Centre in Germiston.

Upon retirement in 2013, he returned to Ireland and was resident at the Oblate House in Dublin.

He buried in his home parish in Drumlane, Milltown.